Baseball bat holder

ABSTRACT

A bat holder is provided. The bat holder includes a cup and a stand. The cup includes a bottom, a sidewall extending upwards from the bottom, and a top rim forming an opening leading into an internal portion of the cup. The internal portion of the cup is sized to receive a hitting end of a bat. The stand is secured to the cup and supports the cup in an upright position when resting on surface. The hitting end of a bat may be placed within the cup and the bat is supported in a substantially vertical position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/110,082, filed Jan. 30, 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to baseball bats and, more particularly, to a baseball bat holder.

A baseball bat is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the sport of baseball to hit the ball after it is thrown by the pitcher. Currently, it is difficult to protect baseball bats from getting chipped or scratched. Chips and scratches are typically caused when coming into contact with rough surfaces like a floor and concrete.

As can be seen, there is a need for a holder that protects the bat from chips and scratches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a bat holder comprises: a cup comprising a bottom, a sidewall extending upwards from the bottom, and a top rim forming an opening leading to an internal portion of the cup; and a stand secured to the cup and operable to support the cup in an upright position when resting on a surface, wherein the internal portion is sized to receive a hitting end of a bat within so that the cup retains the bat in a substantially vertical position.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged top view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the locking of the cup and the support post;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the locking of the support post and the base;

FIG. 8 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a section view of the present invention taken from 9-9 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged section view of an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged top view illustrating a locking system for the bat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The present invention includes a bat holder that protects and stores a baseball bat and increases safety within the dugout. Using the bat holder of the present invention, the bat does not come into contact with rough surfaces. Further, the safety in the dugout is increased because the present invention safely stows the bats out of the way reducing the chances of injury.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 11, the present invention includes a bat holder. The bat holder includes a cup 10 and a stand 11. The cup 10 includes a bottom, a sidewall extending upwards from the bottom, and a top rim forming an opening leading into an internal portion of the cup 10. The internal portion of the cup 10 is sized to receive a hitting end of a bat 50. The stand 11 is secured to the cup 10 and supports the cup 10 in an upright position when resting on surface. The hitting end of a bat 50 may be placed within the cup 10 and the bat 50 is supported in a substantially vertical position. The hitting end of the bat 50 is defined as the end opposite of the handle, used for hitting the ball.

The stand 11 of the present invention may include a base plate 14 and a support post 12. The base plate 14 may be in the shape of a baseball base and may include a plurality of rubber pegs 16 extending from a bottom surface. The support post 12 may include a bottom end and a top end. The bottom end of the support post 12 may be secured to the base plate 14 and the support post 12 may extend vertically from the base plate 14. The cup 10 is secured to the top end of support post 12.

In certain embodiments, the bottom end of the support post 12 is releasably secured to the base plate 14 and the top end of the support post 12 is releasably secured to the bottom of the cup 10. In such embodiments, the base plate 14 may include a base opening to receive the bottom end of the support post 12 and the bottom of the cup 10 may include a cup opening to receive the top end of the support post 12. A locking mechanism may lock the top end of the support post 12 within the cup opening and the bottom end of the support post 12 within the base opening.

The locking mechanism for the support post 12 and the base plate 14 may include the following. The support post 12 may include a pair of bottom lock latches 32 radially extending from the bottom end and the base 14 may include a pair of plate latch slots 38 radially extending from the base opening. The plate latch slots 38 are positioned to align with and sized to receive the bottom lock latches 32. The plate latch slots 38 lead to a base lock channel. The base lock channel is perpendicular to the plate latch slots 38, extends along at least a portion of a circumference of the base opening and is sized to receive and retain the bottom lock latches 32 within. A stopper 42 may be disposed within the base lock channel. The bottom end of the support post 12 may be inserted into the base opening such that the bottom lock latches 32 are inserted into the plate latch slots 38 until the bottom lock latches 32 reach the base lock channel. The support post 12 may be rotated until the bottom lock latches 32 hit the stopper 42, thereby locking the support post 12 to the base 14.

The locking mechanism for the support post 12 and the cup 10 may include the following. The support post 12 may include a pair of top lock latches 30 radially extending from the top end and the cup 10 may include a pair of cup latch slots 40 radially extending from the cup opening. The cup latch slots 40 are positioned to align with and sized to receive the top lock latches 30. The top latch slots 40 lead to a cup lock channel. The cup lock channel is perpendicular to the cup latch slots 40, extends along at least a portion of a circumference of the cup opening and sized to receive and retain the top lock latches 30 within. A stopper 44 may be disposed within the cup lock channel. The top end of the support post 12 may be inserted into the cup opening such that the top lock latches 30 are inserted into the cup latch slots 40 until the top lock latches 30 reach the cup lock channel. The support post 12 may be rotated until the top lock latches 30 hit the stopper 44, thereby locking the support post 12 to the cup 10.

In certain embodiments, the present invention may include a resistance mechanism to retain the bat 50 within the cup 10. In such embodiments, a side housing 23 may extend from the sidewall of the cup 10. A cam 18 having a lobe and a recess is rotatably mounted within the side housing 23 so that a portion of the cam 18 is protruding into the internal portion of the cup 10. A spring 22 biases the recess of the cam 18 within the internal portion. The cam 18 is rotatable to a position where the lobe is protruding into the internal portion against the bias of the spring 22. Therefore, a user may insert the hitting end of the bat 50 into the cup 10 and twist the bat 50. The bat 50 rotates against the recess portion, thereby rotating the cam 18 such that the lobe protrudes into the internal portion against the bat 50, thereby applying pressure against the bat 50 and retaining the bat 50 within the cup 10. To remove the bat 50, the user may rotate the bat 50 in the opposing direction, step on the base plate 14 and pull the bat 50 out.

The cam 18 and side housing 23 of the present invention may include multiple configurations. In certain embodiments, the side housing 23 may be covered by a sidewall cap 26. In such embodiments, cup slide guides 36 may run from a top rim to the side housing 23. The sidewall cap 26 may include cap slide guides 34 that mate with the cup slide guides 36. The sidewall cap 26 may slide onto the sidewall via the guides 34, 36 and a flange of the sidewall cap 26 may cover an exposed top portion of the side housing 23. A screw 28 may be used to secure the sidewall cap 26 to the sidewall.

In certain embodiments, the cam 18 may be rotatably mounted within the side housing 18 by a pivot pin 24. The pivot pin 24 may include a top end secured to a portion of the sidewall and a bottom end secured to a portion of the sidewall. A cam bushing 20 may fit within the cam 18. The pivot pin 24 may run through the cam bushing 20. The spring 22 may include a torsion spring having a first terminating end secured to the cam bushing 18 via a spring slot 48 and a second terminating end secured to the side housing 23 via spring supports 46.

When the present invention is fully assembled it allows a user to insert a bat in the cup, keeping the bat in an upright position off of the ground. The present invention thereby prevents the bat from coming into contact with rough surfaces. The present invention also protects the bat during travel. If you take the present invention apart and leave the sleeve on the bat hitting end or head, a simple twist locks the bat in place protecting the bat while traveling. When the bat is in use, the present invention may be assembled and setup in the dugout.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A bat holder comprising: a cup comprising a bottom, a sidewall extending upwards from the bottom, and a top rim forming an opening leading to an internal portion of the cup; and a stand secured to the cup and operable to support the cup in an upright position when resting on a surface, wherein the internal portion is sized to receive a hitting end of a bat within so that the cup retains the bat in a substantially vertical position.
 2. The bat holder of claim 1, wherein the stand comprises a base plate and a support post extending vertically from the base plate, wherein the bottom of the cup is secured to the support post.
 3. The bat holder of claim 2, wherein the support post comprises a bottom end releasably secured to the base plate and a top end releasably secured to the bottom of the cup.
 4. The bat holder of claim 3, wherein the base plate comprises a base opening to receive the bottom end of the support post and the bottom of the cup comprises a cup opening to receive the top end of the support post.
 5. The bat holder of claim 4, wherein the support post comprises a lock latch radially extending from the bottom end and the base comprises a latch slot radially extending from the base opening and sized to receive the lock latch, wherein the latch slot leads to a base lock channel perpendicular to the latch slot, extending along at least a portion of a circumference of the base opening and sized to receive and retain the lock latch within.
 6. The bat holder of claim 4, wherein the support post comprises a lock latch radially extending from the top end and the cup comprises a latch slot radially extending from the cup opening sized to receive the lock latch, wherein the latch slot leads to a cup lock channel perpendicular to the latch slot, extending along at least a portion of a circumference of the cup opening and sized to receive and retain the lock latch within.
 7. The bat holder of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of rubber pegs extending from a bottom surface of the base plate.
 8. The bat holder of claim 1, further comprising: a side housing secured to the sidewall of a cup; a cam comprising a lobe and a recess, wherein the cam is rotatably mounted within the side housing so that a portion of the cam is protruding into the internal portion of the cup; and a spring biasing the recess of the cam within the internal portion, wherein the cam is rotatable to a position wherein the lobe is protruding into the internal portion against the bias of the spring.
 9. The bat holder of claim 8, further comprising: a pivot pin comprising a top end and a bottom end, wherein the top end and the bottom end are each secured to a portion of the sidewall; and a cam bushing disposed within the cam, wherein the pivot pin runs through the cam bushing, wherein the spring comprises a torsion spring comprising a first terminating end secured to the cam bushing and a second terminating end secured to the side housing.
 10. The bat holder of claim 8, wherein the cam comprises a rubber material. 